The Circle: Who is Tim Wilson? Ex-UKIP professor who hoped to 'expose' the party

After a cracking response from viewers last year, The Circle is back for a second season tonight.

As usual, producers have lined up an interesting mix of contestants to take part, but one has a surprise political past.

Tim Wilson, a former UKIP party member, has opted to “play himself” in the series.

Having studied at Oxford and King’s College London, the 58-year-old is a Professor of Theology and also teaches animation.

Back in 2015, he had planned to stand for UKIP South Northamptonshire for the May 7th general election.

But months beforehand, he left the party to take a stand against comments made to Humza Yousaf, a member of Scottish Parliament.

Scotland’s UKIP MEP, David Coburn, compared Yousaf to a convicted terrorist, sparking national outrage.

When he left, Tim said: “If Mr Coburn wants to make bad jokes about religion, then he is welcome to quit and join Monty Python.”

After that, he stood as a Conservative for the Tory Party and designed animations for the Leave campaign.

Apparently, the soon-to-be reality star told Channel 4 he actually voted Remain and said he only joined UKIP to expose the party.

The lecturer decided to join The Circle because he thinks the internet is a “monumentally deceptive organ”.

He added: “You just have to expose the fact that deceit is all around us”